Big City Club crisis
Berlin (dpa) – Hertha BSC reacts with drastic consequences to the continuation of the downward trend in the Bundesliga.
One day after the 1: 4 against Werder Bremen, the Berlin Bundesliga team split from coach Bruno Labbadia (54) and long-term manager Michael Preetz (53). According to Managing Director Carsten Schmidt, Hertha wants to discuss the successor to Labbadia in the coming days. Probably an interim solution with ex-coach Pal Dardai. The previous sports director Arne Friedrich will take over Preetz’s duties until the summer.
«Hertha BSC owes a lot to Michael Preetz. He has been closely associated with our club for almost 25 years, initially as a player and now for almost twelve years in the position of responsible in the sporting field, ”said club president Werner Gegenbauer on Sunday. Nevertheless, with a view to the developments in the past as well as the current season, “the decision was made to fill this position for the future”.
Labbadia was also welcomed with kind words in a press release. «Every week Bruno Labbadia and his team of coaches have put a lot of work into developing the team. Thank you very much for this. Ultimately, however, we have to state that with 17 points after 18 games, we are in a very serious situation, ”said Schmidt.
After its successful rescue mission in the preseason, Labbadia was unable to meet Hertha’s high expectations this season. Preetz has to take responsibility for the ongoing sporting misery.
Even after the start of the second half of the season, the traditional club, which was named the “Big City Club” by investor Lars Windhorst, is only in 14th place, just ahead of the relegation rank. After the 3-0 win against Schalke 04 at the beginning of the year, there were no further signals to leave. Against Arminia Bielefeld (0: 1), 1. FC Köln (0: 0), TSG Hoffenheim (0: 3) and Werder Bremen (1: 4) only one goal, but no victory.
The new managing director Schmidt had declared January to be the month of the upswing. We are miles away from the prospective Champions League ranks. After the bankruptcy against Bremen, Labbadia and Preetz had already said that they had “no arguments”.
With the end of Preetz, a Berlin football era ends. Born in Düsseldorf, he has been with the club for a quarter of a century. After his time as a player, he was initially assistant to Dieter Hoeneß. In 2009 he took over his position as manager. Under his leadership, Hertha never got beyond mediocrity.
“I am infinitely grateful for the many years that I have been able to play and work for my heart club Hertha BSC on and off the pitch. Those were very intense years with all the ups and downs that a football club has to offer. During this time, we have made great strides towards becoming the club that – and I am convinced – the future will belong to, »said Preetz.
Labbadia has to end its involvement in the capital after only a good nine months. In the middle of the Bundesliga lockdown due to the corona pandemic, the former Bundesliga striker took over the position from Alexander Nouri in April 2020. In the relegation battle, the Hertha executives no longer trusted Jürgen Klinsmann’s former assistant.
Labbadia got off to a very good start as the fourth Hertha coach in the current season after the break in May and led the Berliners to mid-table. He was unable to confirm the upward trend this season.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210124-99-147993 / 5
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